An American was stabbed to death yesterday in Beijing by an attacker described by police as having a history of psychological illness.

Howard Thomas Mills, 62, was stabbed at around 3.20pm in the Qudeng hutong, an alleyway close to the popular tourist area of Qianmen in the Xicheng district southwest of Tiananmen Square, Beijing police said.

The head of Beijing's Xicheng District Court is under investigation for corruption after more than 20 million yuan in cash was found at his home, sources said.

Suo Honggang has been put under shuanggui - an internal party investigative procedure designed to make officials confess their wrongdoings - for 'failing to provide an explanation for a huge amount of assets'.